I know this chapter is pretty abrupt. I had much bigger plans for it, but, since I don't actually know what goes on at the Air Force Academy, I had to skip it. Maybe someday I'll come back and fix it.

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Chapter 5: Success

Despite what Angela had once told her brother about letting people underestimate her, she found that her pride demanded she put all of her energy into her training and coursework. The only area where she struggled was hand-to-hand fighting. One, she didn't want anyone to associate her with the flamboyant fighter in Chicago, and two, she was still reticent after that last fight. She continued to see the man's face in her dreams for years afterward. One day during practice, she had gotten her opponent into almost the same situation and was hit hard by a flashback. She dropped the practice weapon and fell to her knees trembling, unable to breath. She was ordered to see a counselor after that, but only cooperated with the woman after assuring herself that she would never repeat any part of the tale.

As promised, the Academy had made accommodations for her to have her brother with her. They shared a cozy apartment on campus. It was a little cramped, but it was a palace compared to the last place they had lived in. Kurz was even settling reasonably well into his school. There was a brief adjustment period before he discovered that he had rules to follow again and that not everyone was out to steal from him or beat him up. Fortunately, his teacher was very understanding. Angela had kept up lessons with him, buying books for him with the money she had earned fighting and he was actually a little ahead of his classmates.

Her own classes were going well, too. Now that her father was out of the picture, she could study anything she wanted. It was odd, but the science classes were almost too easy. She felt like she had already learned it somewhere before. She even thought the whispers she sometimes heard grew louder as she studied.

The biggest surprise came on the first day of classes. She had taken a seat in the front row, one of only two women to do so. She watched as the other cadets filed in. She nearly fell out of her seat in shock when she saw one particular young man.

It was Jake, the young man from Belle's. He recognized her instantly. She looked away quickly, pretending not to notice him. He sat down next to her. Please don't, she thought desperately.

"My name's Jake," he began nonchalantly. "Jake Tobin."

"Angela Weber," she answered quietly.

"You look a lot like a friend of mine back home."

She slowly turned her head toward him, carefully keeping her expression neutral. "I must have one of those faces."

"Some of us are getting together for pizza Friday night. Want to come?"

"I don't think I could find a babysitter."

His eyes widened slightly. "Oh. I didn't know you had a kid."

"He's my brother. I'm his only family."

"I understand." And Angela thought, perhaps he did.

Over time, they became friends. He tried to ask her out a few times, but she always told him that she had sworn off men for a while. Eventually, he gave up.

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Kurz had forgotten what it was like to have a real home. It was a little scary at first until he understood that he and Angela were safe here. There were no gangs, no drugs, none of the things that they'd had to hide from for so long. It was just the two of them.

He didn't like school at first. It was more fun when Angela taught him, but eventually, he settled in. He liked his teacher a lot. She never got mad at him when he did something wrong. She just explained why it was wrong and what to do to fix the problem. It was almost like having Angela there.

Sometimes, when he didn't have school, Angela would let him watch her at class or in training. At first, everyone was a little weird around him, but they all very quickly came to enjoy having him around. Sometimes the instructors would even let him join in too. It was the most fun he had ever had.

Kurz sat quietly while the General spoke to Angela. "I was just looking at your file, Cadet. It says that you were homeless when you applied here."

"Yes, sir,"

"Your record here is very impressive. You've managed to finish at the top of your class."

"Thank you, sir."

"With that in mind, I'd like you to say a few words at the graduation ceremony."

"Sir, I…"

"That's not a request, Cadet. I'll see you there."

"Yes, sir."

Once the interview was over, they headed back to their little apartment. Angela grumbled under her breath as they walked.

"Are you mad, sis?" he asked nervously.

"No. I just don't like making speeches."

"Do you think Father will find us if you do?"

She thought for a moment. "No. I doubt that this would get his attention. Besides, after this, were going to Japan. The last I knew, he didn't have any contacts over there."

"Good."

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Kurz was elated. Angela was graduating today. It was hard to believe that their lives had changed so much. He sat in the stands watching, trying to pick her out from her class. He couldn't imagine being prouder of her than when she stepped onto stage to give her speech. It was short, but it said everything she needed to say.

Taking the General's hint, she had decided to speak of her experiences in Chicago.

"Four years ago, I could barely imagine a day when I would be standing up here like this. At that time, my home was a cardboard box in an alley in Chicago." The assembled crowd became silent as her words rang out across the field. "I shared this box with my little brother. For a year and a half we subsisted by begging for or stealing food. Then we met a pair of angels in the form of the recruitment officer and his wife. With their help, I was able to pull myself and my brother out of the gutter and into a world I never thought I would be able to see. All that I have achieved here is as much their success as my own, and to them I extend my most heartfelt thanks. And to all of you here today, I say don't be afraid to follow your dreams, because they can come true."

So simply put, the crowd roared its appreciation. As Kurz stood with them, he thought he caught sight of the General nodding in approval.